minneapolis neighborhoods community solar presentation

Community Solar Gardens

Lissa PawlischClean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships & Extension

CERTs: We’re here to help

CERTs Mission: Connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects

Partnership

Community Shared Solar: Cliff Notes

Point to yours!

https://northernharvestfarm.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/dsc017321.jpg http://ucanr.edu/blogs/food/blogfiles/12079_original.jpg

williegreens.org/ourblog/wp-content/new_folder/2012/11/CSA-Boxes.jpg http://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/files/2011/08/CSA-box.

Definition:

Centrally-located solar PV systemsthat provide electricity to participating subscribers

Community Shared Solar

The amount of electricity you use each year helps you decide how much solar to get. Your solar garden subscription can cover as little as 200 watts or up to 120% of your usage.

Designed to cover your needs

Why Community Shared Solar?

Photo from: http://www.greenbeltsolar.com/solar_shading_article.html Photo from: http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1019896.php, Rosedale Estates II

Who are the players?

How does it work?Xcel Energy Program

OPERATOR: primary group running the solar garden

UTILITY: approves garden, tracks production, provides credit.

SUBSCRIBERS: individuals or groups to get solar power

3rd Party Operator develops & runs garden. Maintains relationship w/ subscriber for payment. Utility provides subscriber w/ bill credit.

How does it work?

Payment Rates?

2015 Applicable Retail Rates + Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Payments ($/kWh)

REC Payment ResidentialService

Small GeneralService

General Service/ DemandMetered

None (Applicable Retail Rate) 0.12743 0.12431 0.09914

0.02 (> 250 kW gardens) 0.14743 0.14431 0.11914

0.03 (≤ 250 kW gardens) 0.15743 0.15431 0.12914

Side note: RECs in brief

How does it work?

Pay Up Front / Pre-Pay Model

Subscriber purchases a subscription for a onetime fee that covers the life of the agreement.

Bill credit appears monthly over 25 year project timeline.

Lump sum subscription paid up front

Bill Credit Bill Credit

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How does it work?Pay As You GoSubscriber pays in installments over time. Subscriber receives bill credit for their share of output on their energy bill the following month.

Two separate transactions each month. One is a bill credit. Another is a monthly subscription payment. Process is same over 25 year project timeline.

Bill Credit

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What role to play?

Roles for Neighborhood Assoc.

Explains the Concept

Receives the Solar Benefit

Questions to Ask• What are you goals in becoming a subscriber?• Which model is right for you?• How MUCH do you want to subscribe to?• What can your market power get you?• What factors are most important to you? Location? Cost?

Local jobs?• Project viability – site control, interconnection, terms and

conditions of subscriber agreement• Examples of RFPs

Brings the Pieces Together

Other potential components• Attract a developer/

operator partner• Vet/screen potential

developers• Identify potential host sites• Advocate on behalf of

community values

Aggregator• Identify and secure potential

subscribers• Compensated for role in

securing subscribers

Questions to consider• Target audience? Residential,

commercial sector? Boundaries for participation?

• Timeline targets• Compensation needed/wanted• Manage subscribers over time?

Potential Garden Locations

Photo from: http://www.metroairports.org/Utility/News-Events/Construction-of-Minnesota%E2%80%99s-Largest-Solar-Energy-P.aspx

Host Site Considerations1. Do you have a good site?

http://solar.maps.umn.edu/app/2. Term of lease – 25 years or longer3. Form of payment - $ / month? $ / year? In

form of a subscription?4. How much do you need to be paid to make

it worth it?5. What costs might you

incur for site prep, maintenance or restoration?

6. Roof or ground mount?

Host Site Considerations

Land Lease• How much space? 1 MW

needs around 5-8 acres. • Zoning code issues? • Site prep, maintenance,

restoration: Who does it? Who pays for it?

• Special site concerns regarding access, view shed, etc.?

• Could the land be used for a high-value purpose?

Roof Lease• How old is your roof? 25

year term (or longer)• How much space do you

have? 1 MW system needs around 150,000 sq ft.

• Penetrating or not? If it does, does it violate roof warranty?

• Maintenance and Access?• Whose insurance covers

what? • Site restoration?

Projects Available to Us?

Gardens Under Review

CERTs Resources

http://SolarGardens.MnCERTs.org 27

CERTs Resources

http://MnCERTs.org/SolarGardens/Toolkit 28